Echo Lake and Moat Mountain Loop

It’s the middle of summer and Tuesday’s forecast is for a hot and muggy day.  So what do you say we do a mellow ride with plenty of shade?  The Echo Lake and Moat Mountain loop fits this bill nicely.  

The starting point will be the parking lot just outside Echo Lake State Park in North Conway.  From there we'll ride south on West Side Road for about 3 miles and then enter The National Forest on a trail in the Cedar Creek Development.  As an added feature, we’ll see the new signs which mark the trail heads and junctions of the Moat Mountain biking system.  These were installed recently by our very own White Mountain NEMBA Chapter in cooperation with The Forest Service. 

After entering the Moat Mountain area we’ll take the old rail trail to the top of the quarry for some great views.  After retracing our way back to Forest Road 379A we’ll head in the general direction of Echo Lake.

Most of this ride is pretty flat and suitable for all abilities. So for those of you who are fairly new to fat tire riding this would be a great ride. We will cover about 4 miles of pavement and 6-8 miles of dirt forest trails.

Meet at 9:00am in the parking lot just outside and to the left of the gates to Echo Lake State Park in North Conway. Bring bug spray, a snack or lunch and sun screen.  See you there.

Presidential Rail Trail - Gorham Side

It looks like Tuesday July 10th is going to be a wonderful day for a ride. So it'll be a great day to ride the eastern end of the gentle and very scenic Presidential Rail Trail.

This easy trail, on the old B&M rail bed, will take us through lovely woods with beaver ponds and meadows and some beautiful mountain views. From the Route 2 trail head we'll ride the old rail bed to the intersection of Pinkham B Road. Then we'll switch to Durand Road and take that to the rail trail's height of land at the Castle Trail in Bowman (Randolph). The return journey will be wholly on the rail trail. 

The ride back to our starting point will be a breeze as it is ever so slightly downhill. In all we'll cover about 20 miles.  The surface of the trail is mostly dirt with some ballast and an occasional sandy spot.  We usually ride this trail earlier in the season as it is a good "starter trail".  But we had all rainy Tuesdays in May.

Directions: Go north on Route 16 to Gorham. When route 16 meets route 2 at the T intersection turn left. Go through Gorham on Routes 16 and 2 until Route 2 diverges to the left at the traffic light . You'll see the trail head parking lot on the right about .8 mile after you turn left on Route 2.

Carpooling:  Meet at the Old Jackson Town Hall at 9:15.  We should start the ride in Gorham by 10:00am. 

Bring sunscreen, plenty of water and a snack (or lunch).  For those who are interested in amazingly good panninis, we can go to Saladino's in downtown Gorham for lunch after the ride.

Warren Rail Trail

Last year we didn’t get to this really nice ride.  Recently there was a request to try this route again and I couldn’t agree more. It’s time to do this scenic and varied rail trail again.  Its going to be a warm summer day tomorrow so this shady, woodsy ride will fit the bill perfectly.  Below is the trail description from the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s website.

“This popular trail starts from an interesting landmark: a Redstone missile brought to Warren by a resident who served in the Army in Alabama in 1970. He found some obsolete missiles in a field and arranged with the Army to transport one back to Warren, aiming to bring something of America's thriving (and far-removed) space program closer to local youth. Placed in the town center in 1971, it remains a prominent fixture.

The rail-trail (a.k.a. the Jesse E. Bushaw Memorial Trail or New Hampshire Snowmobile Corridor No. 5) is a pleasant and picturesque 9.4-mile multipurpose route. The hard-packed dirt surface is generally wide, smooth, and flat, and motorized use is permitted, making it popular among ATV riders in summer and snowmobilers in winter. The trail also welcomes walkers, bikers, equestrians, and anglers eager to try their luck in trailside brooks and ponds.

While most of the route is straight with few technical obstacles, between miles 6 and 7, the trail dips and climbs steeply as it diverges from the railbed to follow State Route 25. Where it rejoins the corridor, the route again runs straight and flat.

Around mile 8, just after you pass the concrete cubes protecting this section of the trail from motorized use, you'll enter the Oliverian Valley Wildlife Preserve's Habitat Management Demonstration Area. Viewing platforms on either side of the path help you keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife.  In the final mile, the trail passes under power lines, swings to the right, and crosses a brook. You'll emerge on State Route 25 in East Haverhill."
Directions: Take the Kanc (route 112) to North Woodstock go across route 3 and continue on route 112 for 2.6 miles. Take a left onto route 118 which will take you to Warren. Look for the upright missile in downtown Warren and we'll figure out parking from there.

Carpooling: For those people who will use Bear Notch Road meet at the Attitash parking lot at 8:45am. We should be ready to start the ride around 10am.  If you plan to drive directly to Warren please let me know.  Just to make sure that we don’t ride off without you. There is a very yummy ice cream shop in North Woodstock where we can “reward” ourselves on the trip home.

Map link:http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/-warren/897125621736444678

Bring plenty of water, lunch and bug spray.

Due to the expectation of more of the same as today--RAIN-- the ride is cancelled for Tuesday, June 26.

Wild River Ride

This Tuesday, June 19 we'll ride the Wild River road to the campground from Route 2.

Directions: Go to Gorham on route 16 north. At the Route 2 intersection go right towards Maine. About 2 (I think it’s 1.9) miles beyond the Maine State line take a right onto a dirt road which leads to the site of the old bridge and a large parking area. If you get to the new bridge which is just beyond our turn off you’ve gone too far. And if you get to Route 113, on the right, just over the new bridge you’ll know you’ve over shot the starting point.

We’ll meet at 10 am in the parking lot. Bring a lunch and we’ll eat somewhere along the river.

Dam and Dummer

Tomorrow looks like a stellar day for a bike ride.  And we deserve it too.  So to celebrate our good fortune let’s do one of our very best rides.

This fabulous ride starts across the street from the Berlin Airport. First we'll pedal north on the rural and quiet East Side River Road which closely follows the Androscoggin River and has wonderful views. Next we'll turn right onto Hill Street, a dirt road which gently rises through woods and farm lands and takes us on a loop with great southern views and back to East Side River Road. From here we'll ride to dirt roads which parallel a hydropower canal before getting us to the seldom visited east side of the Androscoggin River. Before starting our return on East Side River Road we'll stop for a water front lunch at either the dam or the hydro station south of the dam.

To see the map of this 18 mile part pavement and part dirt road ride click here: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/17313468

Driving directions:Take route 16 north through Berlin. About 3 miles past the Nansen Wayside Park (old ski jump on the left and waterfront park on right), Bridge Street will be on the right. You should also see an airport sign pointing right too. Cross over the Androscoggin River and at the end of Bridge Street pull into the ball park lot on your left.

Carpool: Meet at 8:45am at The Old Jackson Town Hall which is across the street from the Post Office.

If you plan to meet the group at the starting point please let me know, chumley@earthlink.net  so that we don't start the ride without you. Please be ready to ride a little bit before 10:00am tomorrow. See you there for a very special ride.

To Ride or Not to Ride...

CANCELLED

It’s cold, it’s damp and showers are expected. Dangity!!!

We've been washed out for five weeks in a row.  Will the sixth time be the charm?  Stay tuned.  The NWS say there's a 40% chance of rain tomorrow.  If the skies do clear for a ride, let's do The Presidential Rail Trail from Gorham.  See last week's description.

Check back tomorrow after 8am for the scoop and the timing.